#LifeLokal: Discovering fashion pieces that go way beyond trends at Christiana Manila
While the world of fashion does not come short of trends and fads, most shoppers now are embracing styles and silhouettes that can transcend time.
Bibai Gaisano-Puyat, a mother of four children, birthed to her lifestyle brand Christiana Manila in 2016. She said that after becoming a mother, her fashion needs "changed and contributed to founding Christiana." The brand name even came from the list of names she made for her second child.
"I had always followed fashion, but family life and the demands of motherhood changed both my day-to-day life and aesthetic vision," she told PhilSTAR L!fe.
Inspired by the modern Filipina, Christiana Manila promises to make "everyday elegance effortless" by creating investment pieces that one will wear a lifetime.
"I keep in mind the timelessness of each piece—I want them to be able to wear a Christiana piece over and over again, one that transcends trends and seasons," Bibai explained.
Christiana's "classic, modern, and feminine" ethos is reflected in each of their products, which are all proudly Filipino made. Aside from clothing, Christiana has also expanded to home good items and jewelry.
Continue reading below to know more about the brand.
How does your Filipino heritage/culture influence your brand values and identity?
Filipinos deeply value their culture and heritage. I think this influences the way I create clothes for the modern Filipina. I keep in mind the timelessness of each piece—I want them to be able to wear a Christiana piece over and over again, one that transcends trends and seasons.
Another quality that Christiana values is modesty. I also think Filipinas are generally modest. I believe we can express our truest self by wearing age appropriate clothing. Christiana values quiet confidence—in looking polished and put together, one becomes strong and self assured. Genuine and inspiring.
There are so many competitive brands within the world of fashion right now, how do you make your brand stand out from the rest?
If you focus on your core values as a brand, for Christiana these are classic, feminine elegance, thoughtfully designed pieces - you do not need to compete with others or make a lot of effort to stand out from the rest. I always say that the people who understand your brand and believe in the same values will always support your brand.
What other obstacles have you faced whilst creating your brand and how have you overcome them?
The COVID-19 situation has made us all feel uncomfortable and anxious. As a small business, it was really a challenging time to navigate the business. What kept me persevering is the daily wage sewers who are working for Christiana. I wanted to sustain them most especially during that time. That is why it led to opening the brand to new products that are considered "essentials"—such as masks and protective gear, but still quintessentially Christiana.
Christiana values quiet confidence—in looking polished and put together, one becomes strong and self assured.
I also reached out to hospitals and NGO's to help provide protective gear for those who needed it. I am so grateful because customers reached out and helped Christiana with the cause. I realized that we can do a lot if we all focus our efforts and believe in the goodness of everyone, I am grateful that Christiana provided a sense of relief to many during that uncertain time.
How do you want your customers to feel when they're wearing your products?
My vision for Christiana has always been about a woman who is self assured, who embraces her femininity by wearing classic and well made clothes that fit her lifestyle making her feel good and look good. I've always believed that fashion is an outward expression of who you truly are from the inside when done intentionally and thoughtfully it can transform your whole being.
